Detection of Illegal Wildlife Trade at Border Checkpoints

21 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development (a) for each year in the past three years, how many cases of illegal wildlife trade have been detected at our border checkpoints and within Singapore past the border checkpoints respectively; (b) from these cases, how many live animals have been confiscated annually at our border checkpoints and within Singapore past the border checkpoints respectively; and (c) how many of these animals currently remain under our care.

Mr Lawrence Wong: In the last three years, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) detected 10 cases of illegal wildlife trade at our border checkpoints. During the same period, 58 cases were detected within Singapore. Arising from these cases, AVA confiscated 660 live animals. While the vast majority were given to the Singapore Zoo or repatriated to the source country, 77 animals are still in AVA's custody pending further investigations and Court trials.

AVA works closely with Singapore Customs and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority on the detection of illegal wildlife trade cases. Information is also shared among our enforcement agencies to facilitate enforcement. While the authorities at all our border checkpoints remain vigilant, we also urge the public to do their part to refrain from such trade and report any suspicious cases. By working together, we can help stop the illegal trade in wildlife.